Smith emphasized that his agency never felt the need to indict any individuals, and he didn't believe any criminal activity was involved. The case has been closed, he said.

Kierra was a sixth-grade student at James Mastricola Upper Elementary School. Her grandmother was at the house on Kearns Drive when the gun went off, but her parents, Kenneth Walker and Trisha Leavitt, were not at the residence.

The day after Kierra's death, a local mother started a Facebook page titled, "Make Merrimack Bully Free."

Shannon Duval-Grooms began the site as a way for parents and teenagers to gain information on how to handle bullying and where to go for help.

"I don't care who it is, no kid should be picked on," said Duval-Grooms, whose 14-year-old daughter was a friend of Kierra's. "I don't want to see any kid go through this. If the Facebook page helps one kid, it is worth it."

According to Duval-Grooms, her own daughter was the victim of continuous bullying about the same time of Kierra's death.

"She had a hard time with Kiki's passing," said Duval-Grooms, who asked to keep her child's identity anonymous. "My daughter told me that Kiki was dealing with these same issues at school."

In her daughter's case, the alleged bully was ultimately removed from the school system.

The girl has since learned how to deal with bullying in different ways, thanks to assistance from representatives at Bully Free New Hampshire, said Duval-Grooms.

Duval-Grooms' daughter, a student at Merrimack Middle School, is hoping to organize a memorial or vigil for Kierra this spring.

Other efforts are also under way to possibly establish a music scholarship in honor of Kierra, who participated in her school chorus and loved to sing.

Kierra also loved nature, animals, babies and swimming, according to people at the funeral. She loved snuggling with her parents, dressing up and dancing like no else could, her friends said at the time.

Kierra's mother did not return messages seeking comment for this article.